Karachi Kings kept their winning streak alive in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) with a thrilling five-wicket victory over Rawalpindi at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Successful Chase of 198 Runs
Chasing a challenging target of 198 runs, Karachi Kings reached the total with four balls remaining. The chase was led by strong performances from captain David Warner and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan, both of whom scored impressive half-centuries.
Early Setback and Recovery
Karachi did not have a perfect start, losing Muhammad Waseem early in the third over after scoring 27 runs. After this setback, Salman Ali Agha and David Warner built a steady partnership of 43 runs.
Agha contributed a valuable 29 runs before getting out in the ninth over, helping stabilize the innings.
A major turning point came when Azam Khan was promoted up the batting order ahead of Moeen Ali. This decision worked well, as Azam and Warner formed a crucial 76-run partnership for the third wicket.
Their partnership kept Karachi Kings on track during the pressure of the chase.
Warner and Azam Lead the Charge
David Warner played a captain’s innings, scoring 50 runs off 36 balls, including six fours and one six. He was dismissed in the 16th over by Daryl Mitchell.
Azam Khan continued the attack and played a match-winning knock. He scored an outstanding 74 runs off just 34 balls, hitting six fours and six sixes. His aggressive batting put Karachi in a strong position to win.
Azam Khan was dismissed by Mohammad Amir in the second-last over, creating some tension. In the final over, Daryl Mitchell took another wicket by dismissing Moeen Ali on the first ball.
However, Abbas Afridi quickly finished the match by hitting a six on the very next delivery, securing Karachi’s third consecutive win in the tournament.
Bowling Performance
For Rawalpindi, Daryl Mitchell was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 32 runs. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Amir picked up one wicket each.
Earlier in the match, Rawalpindi scored 197/6 in their 20 overs after Karachi chose to bowl first.
For Karachi Kings, Hasan Ali was the standout bowler with figures of 3/24 in four overs. Khushdil Shah took two wickets, while Mir Hamza claimed one.
